Fort Pulaski National Monument, Military fortress on Cockspur Island, Savannah, United States.
Fort Pulaski National Monument is a military fortress on Cockspur Island near Savannah, featuring thick brick walls and defensive structures. The grounds include tidal marshes with walking trails winding through native coastal plants and trees.
The fort was built in the 1800s and surrendered in 1862, marking the first time rifled cannons successfully breached masonry walls. This military test fundamentally changed how fortifications were designed around the world.
The site honors Casimir Pulaski, a Polish officer who died defending Savannah in 1779, and visitors can trace this historical connection through inscriptions and plaques throughout the grounds.
The fort is reached by a paved walkway crossing the moat to a central entrance tunnel. The site lies on Cockspur Island, reached by road from Savannah via U.S. 80; check tide tables, as low-lying areas can flood. Bring insect repellent for the marsh surroundings.
The fort held only two caretakers from its completion in 1847 until 1860, when Georgia's governor sent 110 men by steamship from Savannah to seize it. After Union forces took the fort in 1862, it became a final stop on the Underground Railroad; enslaved people on Cockspur Island were declared free by General Order Number 7.
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